Freemasonry is not a religion, nor is it a substitute
for religion. It has no theology and does not teach any route to salvation.
A belief in God, however, is an essential requirement for membership and Freemasonry
encourages its members to be active in their own religions as well as in society
at large.

Although every lodge meeting is opened and closed
with a prayer and its ceremonies reflect the essential truths and moral teachings
common to many of the world's great religions, no discussion of religion is
permitted in lodge meetings.

The following information explains the United
Grand Lodge of England's view of the relationship between Freemasonry and
religion.

Basic Statement:- Freemasonry is not a religion,
nor is it a substitute for religion. It demands of its members a belief in
a Supreme Being but provides no system of faith of its own.

Freemasonry is open to men of all religious
faiths. The discussion of religion at its meetings is forbidden.

The Supreme Being:- The names used for the Supreme
Being enable men of different faiths to join in prayer (to God as each sees
Him) without the terms of the prayer causing dissention among them. There
is no separate Masonic God; a Freemason's God remains the God of the religion
he professes.

Freemasons meet in common respect for the Supreme
Being, but He remains Supreme in their individual religions, and it is no
part of Freemasonry to attempt to join religions together. There is therefore
no composite Masonic God.

Why do you call God the Great Architect?

Freemasonry embraces all men who believe in
God. Its membership includes Christians, Jews, Hindus, Sikhs, Muslims, Parsees
and others. The use of descriptions such as the Great Architect prevents disharmony.
The Great Architect is not a specific Masonic god or an attempt to combine
all gods into one. Thus, men of differing religions pray together without
offense being given to any of them.

Volume of the Sacred Law:- The Bible, referred
to by Freemasons as the Volume of the Sacred Law, is always open at every
Masonic meeting.

Why do you call it the VSL and not the Bible?
To the majority of Freemasons the Volume of the sacred Law is the Bible. There
are many in Freemasonry, however, who are not Christian and to them the Bible
is not their sacred book and they will make their promises on the book which
is regarded as sacred to their religion. The Bible will always be present
in an English lodge but as the organisation welcomes men of many different
faiths, it is called the Volume of the Sacred Law. Thus, when the Volume of
the Sacred Law is referred to in ceremonies, to a non-Christian it will be
the holy book of his religion and to a Christian it will be the Bible.

The Obligation of Freemasonry:- The Obligations
taken by Freemasons are sworn on or involve the Volume of the Sacred Law,
or the book held sacred by those concerned.

They are undertakings to help keep secret a
Freemason's means of recognition, and to follow the principles of Freemasonry.
The physical penalties, which are purely symbolic, do not form part of an
Obligation. The commitment to follow the principles of Freemasonry is, however,
deep.

a) it has no theological doctrine, and by forbidding
religious discussion at its meetings will not allow a Masonic theological
doctrine to develop.

b) It offers no sacraments.

c) It does not claim to lead to salvation by
works, by secret knowledge or by any other means.

The secrets of Freemasonry are concerned with
modes of recognition and not with salvation.

Why don't some churches like Freemasonry?

There are elements within certain churches who
misunderstand Freemasonry and confuse secular rituals with religious liturgy.
Although the Methodist Conference and the General Synod of the Anglican Church
have occasionally criticised Freemasonry, in both Churches there are many
Masons and indeed others who are dismayed that the Churches should attack
Freemasonry, an organisation which has always encouraged its members to be
active in their own religion.

Why will Freemasonry not accept Roman Catholics
as members?

It does. The prime qualification for admission
into Freemasonry has always been a belief in God. How that belief is expressed
is entirely up to the individual. Four Grand Masters of English Freemasonry
have been Roman Catholics. There are many Roman Catholic Freemasons.

Freemasonry Supports Religion:- Freemasonry
is far from indifferent to religion. Without interfering in religious practice
it expects each member to follow his own faith, and to place above all other
duties his duty to God, by whatever name He is known. Its moral teachings
are acceptable to all religions. Freemasonry is thus a supporter of religion.